DBT in fertilizer from January : Odisha Minister

While the centre has set end of 2018 as the cutoff date for implementation of DBT in fertilizer, Odisha cooperation minister Surya Narayan Patro, said the Union government would provide the subsidy for fertilizers through DBT system in the state from January 1 next year.

Earlier, IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi welcomed the govt resolve to achieve its target of DBT in fertilizers by the end of 2018. Demanding DBT in fertilizer through numerous tweets in the past IFFCO MD recently tweeted his happiness “Congratulations PM @narendramodi to set target for DBT in #fertiliser subsidy by end of 2018.”

Direct Benefits Transfer (DBT) has been a great success, the number of beneficiaries across sectors crossing the 30-crore mark. The government intended transferring all subsidies through an Aadhaar-enabled DBT by the end of 2017.

In odisha, all Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) and Large Area Multi Purpose cooperative Societies (LAMPS) have to install point of sale (PoS) machines soon, Minister emphasized, reports local media.

“Out of about 2,700 PACS and LAMPS, only 1000 odd societies have installed the PoS machines. We are urging them to install the PoS devices to facilitate DBT for fertilizers,” the minister said.

A source is quoted saying only 913 of 2708 PACS and LAMPCS have installed the PoS devices while the remaining societies and marketing agencies will be provided with the PoS devices with latest by December 15 this year.

Sale of all subsidized fertilizers to farmers will be made through PoS devices installed at each PACS and LAMPCS (retailer) and the beneficiary will be identified through Aadhar Card, Kissan Credit Card (KCC) and Voter Identity Card, officials said.

However, experts are raising questions about the effective implementation of the system as rural Orissa does not have sufficient bank branches and farmers are not familiar with the use of PoS devices.